Christmas cookies (eggless)

A plate of sugar cookies cut in fun shapes add joy to the table at any time of the year ! During the Christmas season it looks all the more special and appealing and I just have to make it year after year...Christmas just does not feel complete without making a batch of these to have at home and share with all the children who bring joy into my world of food ! You'd be surprised to know that despite making it each year,I do not own any cookie cutters in Christmasy shapes...they are very kindly given,to me on loan by two people who own an amazing array of shapes and do not mind me dipping in every now and then into their treasure chest of cookie cutters..thank you Priya and Divya !!!

I also had the privilege of baking cupcakes with these 2 lovely ladies along with another friend and firm foodie Aishwarya...for the children of St.Antony's school run by Mr.Rayan Rosario...he and his wife Brenda along with their family have been doing some amazing work in educating these children and we were so happy,thanks to the initiative of another friend JJ Chakola, to be able to contribute in our own small way for the Christmas celebrations held for these children on the 21st of Dec at the school premises.Many others played Santa on this day by donating toys and cash and I hope we will be able to bring smiles to these kids' faces year after year...if you would like to make a donation you can contact him at 98940 75500

While I have come across many sugar cookie recipes...this one by Rachel Allen is very simple and I like the fact that it is egg less and is very easy to make...another favourite is also Nigella Lawson's sugar cookie recipe ! This recipe has only butter ,sugar and flour,however I suggest using vanilla...simply love the aroma wafting out of my oven!!!

I usually do make Santa , Reindeer  and Snowman cookies too...this year I made a very small batch and also not in time for the 25th...but then again who's complaining ?!!!? ;D

Recipe for sugar cookies

Ingredients

225 g butter (at room temp)

110g castor sugar

275g flour (please use any wholemeal flour of your choice)

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C

Beat the butter until it is soft and light

Add the sugar and beat until it is fluffy

Add in the vanilla

Sift in the flour and fold in ,then mix with your hands to form a dough

Empty the dough onto a roll of cling film and fold the cling film over...flatten it to a disc and refrigerate for 30mts.

Make sure you have a clean surface for rolling,dust the surface with plain flour

Take a little at a time and roll out with a rolling pin...smear the rolling pin with flour to prevent the dough from sticking to it

Roll it out to about a quarter inch thickness

Dip the chosen cookie cutters into flour before cutting out the shapes

Cut out the shapes,it should lift off easily...transfer to the baking tray...if you have trouble with the shapes breaking,just re roll them a bit thicker and it should be fine :))

There is no need to grease the tray as there is enough butter content in the cookie dough !

Bake until golden...let cool before icing them.

Icing

5 Tbsp icing sugar (approx)

1 tsp of hot water

Mix it together...this being a very simple glace icing...you can make it as thick or runny as you like by just adjusting the ratio of sugar and water...I usually don't measure this and go by the consistency that I want !

Hint: Make sure you don't knead it too much before rolling .

These are the pics of the cupcakes made by us for the kids at St.Antony's..300 in total,100 by Divya, 75 each by Priya and Aishwarya and 50 cupcakes made by me.

The children at St.Antony's school

 

Priya's colour full cupcakes

Divya's Christmas cupcakes

Aishwarya's pretty cupcakes

 

Road trips and food

India being so vast and varied in landscapes , climate and experiences...we all need to take road trips every once in awhile to explore quiet vistas...for a real getaway,  a rejuvenation for the soul...whether with a group or in solitude ,such road trips always have a companion...the food....that just doesn't taste as good, when eaten indoors !!!

Murrukkus

While breathing in fresh air and listening to the amazing sounds of nature,that sadly are drowned in cities due to the hustle and bustle of civilisation,conversations always tend to become more introspective and enlightened...very little bothers the human mind in such surroundings ! One owes it to beautiful hillsides,the respect that only photography can pay,even through the lens of an amateur...and when we do stop to capture these breathtaking images,an unspoken understanding is to relish the moment with small nibbles of food,that one always craves while soaking in unpolluted air !

Aalaiyar

The perfect picnic spot

Just to be able to be at such a serene spot is such a gift...how dare we not fight to preserve these amazing treasures!!!! To have had the privilege and pleasure of sighting a horn bill in flight is incomparable...the hills indeed are alive and breathtakingly so !!!!

Thattai murrukkus

Being on a trip with fun loving teenagers is such a joy and their voracious appetites also gives others an excuse to indulge...a lot of the other grub could not be photographed owing to lightning actions of hand to mouth ;)))))

While I should have taken pictures of the simple but delicious meals served at the place we vacationed in...I was simply having too much fun,to remember to take fun food photos !!! It happens sometimes !!!

So,if this has got you thinking of taking a road trip to a place not too far away,do check out THE WOODBRIAR GUESTHOUSES AT VALPARAI ,TAMILNADU. They offer beautiful bungalows/rooms,wonderful staff to make your stay comfortable and breathtaking location...hammock included !!!!! 

Sunday Santhai

Sunday Santhai...an interesting enough name that got me curious to venture out on a Sunday morning...when the day dawned,it was with a fair amount of hesitation that I continued on with my agenda...to visit the new initiative of a 'Sunday Santhai'(sunday market...a concept quite popular in the earlier years,still practiced in villages and is also common abroad) at the Ladies Club at RSPuram...Since I was accompanied by my lovely German friend..I told myself and her...that we should go with an open mind as I had no idea of what to expect !!!

I'm thrilled to report that it was a wonderful experience,very informal,with friendly smiling faces,a relaxed atmosphere...a cultured bunch of people showing their wares...baked goods , beautiful handmade soaps , lovely handmade accessories( crochet jewellery...paper quilling jewellery),garments and the best discovery of today...The Suriyani Kitchen !
 Theirs was an enchanting stall filled to the brim with lovely goodies from their home kitchen...a lot of their food has the Syrian influence...they sold quaint bottles of an awesome date pickle,sweet,spicy and tangy...the perfect fusion of tastes ! YUM !!!!

To get in touch with them...they do sell out of home,you can contact ,the charming Maria...the lady in the saree at 99446 94094...she is also very passionate about her baked treats...pineapple upside down cake, a spiced cake with dates and nuts...she sources her ingredients from the Middle East,enchanting sugar cookies for Christmas in the shapes of snowflakes and stars...all beautifully packed in Santa colours...you can feel me smiling as I write this,I'm sure  ;))))))))

The other thing I noticed was this lovely red fruit in bottles, I got quite excited for a moment thinking,they were fresh cranberries and quickly had a mental vision of the perfect side for a roast turkey dinner...she hastened to educate me by pointing out that this was a native fruit to Kerala...the English name being 'scranberry'....apparently they have a tree in their ancestral home and therefore they have it in abundance...she did mention the native name but in my excitement to soak it all in ,I forgot what she said !

Scranberries

Don't they look absolutely perfect for the season ?!!!...I'm sure she will only be more than willing to share with you tips on how best to relish this lovely fruit ! She also makes her own red wine and a ginger and lime drink...all in all it was an enchanting little stall and as you can see, I was completely captured by all her wares...it was with a lot of reluctance that I finally walked away...I'm thankful to my friend Johanna who captured these photos, for me, to be able to share with you all !

Date pickle

Baked Christmas goodies

If you like what you've read and the pictures featured here,do give her a call and do post your comment here because as much as you'd like to hear from me...I would like to hear from you tooo !!!!

I really did want to post these pictures sooner but of all days,today there was a bit of a problem with my Internet connection!!!! It was truly one of those days where you expect very little and you come away feeling like you've gained a whole lot...so I do hope to see lots more of these Sunday Santhais and a big thank you to my mum who wanted me to check it out and to the organisers who decided to revive this concept !

Sweet Salt Air

It recently occurred to me that being a voracious reader since childhood also shaped my interest in food and flavours ,a great deal . As I mentioned right at the onset,from the Enid Blytons, began my exposure of learning to describe food in a manner that pleasured all senses ! So next to discovering flavours ,cooking for loved ones and blogging about my food experiences,a close second ,comes indeed fiction woven around food...especially if it is a romantic novel set in an exotic location...Ahhh !!!!...what more could one want but a hammock beneath swaying palms,a cool breeze and maybe a spot of nourishment !

I happened to chance upon this book while in transit at an airport recently and I was intrigued with the synopsis at the back of the cover,if it would live up to it's tall proclamations !?!! It did indeed ,which is why I'm writing away furiously,to share it with you.

That I should chance upon a story of a food blogger, at this point in time ,I found it a charming co-incidence and enjoyed reading it a lot more than I would have,before I started Pink Lemon Tree ! It does have a lot of romance as most of her books but in the midst of all the herbs and the talk of recipes and flavours...I really wished it would never end ! So...if you share my passion for books and food tales,take a peek at........

 SWEET SALT AIR...I'm sure you won't be disappointed !

Mexican Lasagne

If I have offended Mexicans and Italians all over the world..apologies and in my defence, I'd like to add that I am not the creator of this dish but I merely borrowed the idea from the lovely enchantress of cookery shows Nigella Lawson ! This dish is the perfect meal ,to be whipped up on a busy day...or it can be assembled ahead and baked 20 mts before eating your meal ! It combines the delicious flavours of Mexico and the technique of Italian cooking in a sumptuous manner !
Once you have this recipe in your repertoire...it just needs a bit of planning ahead,say at the beginning of the week and once you have the necessary ingredients,it really is a breeze !By planning ahead,I mean only the cooking of the kidney (rajma) beans which need to be soaked overnight and pressure cooked thoroughly for 20mts until they are soft...as uncooked beans can be toxic !!! That and you need to keep ready in your pantry some jalapenos,olives,corn...and lots of tomatoes...we Mexicans and Italians love those !!!!
For those of you who have hectic schedules but still like to cook,you can ,if you prefer,substitute canned tomatoes or tomato puree...as long as it does not contain extra sugar or salt !

Hot and bubbling Lasagna

A serving of hot lasagna

Recipe for  Mexican Lasagna
Ingredients-serves 4-6
Tortilla wraps- 6
Tomatoes-8 ,ripe red tomatoes
Garlic- 2 cloves
Onions- 2
Corn- (boiled or /from a can )-500g
Kidney beans-cooked -3 C
Jalapenos-sliced-1/4 C
Black olives-sliced and pitted-1/ 4 C
chili flakes...olive oil...a bit of demerrera sugar
Coriander leaves-1 bunch chopped fine
Cheddar cheese-1 C (grated)
a circular baking dish
Method
In a large pan ,add the tomatoes,onions and garlic,add enough water to cook and boil for about 6-8 mts...let cool
Once it's cool,puree it and strain it and set aside.
Now combine together in a bowl,the beans,olives,jalapenos and corn,add some chili flakes,salt if necessary,a bit of olive oil and toss and set aside.
In a shallow pan,add a little oil and add the tomato mixture,add salt, a pinch of sugar and let boil with the lid closed for 8 mts...add the chopped coriander leaves(what's Mexican without coriander ?!!!)
Once the tomato mixture reduces,check for seasoning.
In the baking dish,place the first layer of tortilla wrap / wraps depending on the size of the dish...
Spoon over some tomato sauce until it covers completely
Add a layer of the beans and corn
Cover with another layer of tortilla wrap
Again the tomato sauce and the bean mixture
Once ,you've reached the last layer,when your sauce and veg are done...top with the cheddar cheese and bake until melted and gooey.
Serve hot.
I would recommend this be served with my yummy lettuce and orange salad ...very refreshing in contrast to all these spicy flavours !
Or you could also serve it with some simple grilled lemon chicken ! 

It does make for good leftovers,a yummy lunch box option...very minimal fat...no butter,no deep frying,no cream....just looks very rich but it actually is not :))

 

Potato poriyal with moringa leaves

It's all about the colours red and green...Santa colours...so my food this month has gotta have both or at least one of the colours featured,vividly ;))...I also wanted a variation for my potato poriyal...ha ! So,it had to have something added, to up the health quotient but not deter from that inherent taste that is so unique to the potato poriyal...well roasted on the outside,a yummy golden brown but soft on the inside...with the right balance of salt and spice...a perfect dish for lunch !
Seeing that my moringa (murungakkai) leaves were all lush after the rains.I just had to use them today ! After sending silent prayer thoughts to the food goods to make my experimental dish not just edible but yummy,I bravely continued on the path never before taken in the history of my kitchen....a tad too much drama u think ?!! Hey ! you get a yummy recipe here,so no laughing !!!  ;P
Such simple flavours,but I was amazed at how well the dish went down and further more they all picked up on the new flavour...HAPPY ?...U bet I am !!!!! :)))
Recipe for potato poriyal with moringa leaves
Ingredients- serves 4
Potatoes-1/2 kg
Onions-2 finely chopped
Moringa (drumstick plant ) leaves-2 big hand fulls (washed)
Salt ,pepper (freshly crushed black pepper)
EVOO(extra virgin olive oil) or sunflower oil -1 Tbsp
Method
Boil the potatoes and set aside to cool
Quarter them into bite sized chunks
Chop the leaves finely and set aside
In a shallow pan,add the oil and turn the heat down low
Add the onions and saute,add a bit of salt
When the onions are soft,add the potato chunks,add the salt and pepper
Toss well on low heat for about 10 minutes until they turn golden
Once they have a good golden brown colour all over,add the finely chopped moringa leaves and toss through gently
Leave it to cook for just 2 minutes,check seasoning and transfer to a serving dish.
Serve hot

 Once the leaves are chopped fine,it's amazing how much of the quantity can be added and not feel it while eating ...good for fussy kids !

This is a great side dish for a South Indian lunch of rice and rasam,I do know of the argument of eating carb with carb but rice and potatoes do offer a totally different group of minerals and as long as you are careful with the amount of fat (oil) you use,there is no harm !

Weinacht Stollen

While we are talking about all the things we love at Christmas,I must mention to you the one other delicious loaf of cake/bread that finds it's way to my table every December...I know it by it's German name, Weinacht Stollen...It's a loaf of bread made for winter filled with dried fruit and rum...to help keep up your energy in the cold winter months...over time it became traditional food to be savoured during the Christmas season...now families order it well in advance to send it to loved ones all over the world and also to fill their own larder in the festival season !

The process of making Stollen

 http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/saras-secrets/stollen-recipe/index.html
If ever you want to make it....this seems to be the best recipe !

However,if you are like me,very content to have it brought to you...you know what to ask for when someone is visiting from Germany during Christmas or if you happen to be travelling in that area yourself ! Do bring back home, a loaf of Stollen,you will love it !!!

The remaining bit of Stollen in my home

My family and I love the delicious flavour of spices and orange and the coating of confectioner's sugar,that hits the perfect sweet note at the end...it's great for breakfast or in the evening with a cup of hot coffee...that's how I was taught to eat it and it's perfect for this cold December weather !!! Thank goodness there are lots of people in the family to share it with or I might end up eating a great deal more than what I should !!!!

Why don't you ask your nearest baker if he/she can make you one of these delightful loaves....you never know...they just might grant your wish !!!! Cheers !

Oh...you will let me know if they do won't you ?!!...after all ,it's the fair thing to do.... ;)))

Two tone Christmas cookies

I adore everything about the Christmas season...the colours , the stories of sharing and caring , the treats , the beautiful tree all lit up, the special meals, the weather , the christmasy songs whether belted out by Frank Sinatra or carollers coming to your home at night and sharing their melodies...I love it all ! My favourite memories of Christmas as a child was of course the sweet little tree that mum always had with the gifts peeking underneath it but also of carol singers landing up at our doorstep and we waiting sleepily in our 

nightwear and offering them a warm drink and some home made cake and savouries...what a great feeling !

As an adult the reasons I look forward to Christmas is mainly the opportunity to give...to be able to bring cheer to the ones most deserving,in your own small way...I hold very close to my heart the memory of baking cupcakes along with some dear friends,for the small children of a school run by a very large hearted human being...I look forward to re-living that experience again this year !

We also look forward to the amazing array of home baked goodies that show up at our doorstep every year...how fortunate to have such great friends across the seas who never fail to fill my larder with their yummy bites of confectionery that taste of love and hugs !

I share with you a recipe given to me by a friend...quite easy once you do make it,not to mention delicious !!!

Recipe for two tone cookies

Ingredients

3/4 c soft butter
2/3 c sugar 
1 tbsp sugar 
1 tsp baking powder 
1 1/2 tsp vanilla essence/extract (extract is more superior)
1/2 tsp salt 
1 large egg 
2 c  flour (you may use wholemeal flour instead)
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder

1. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat  butter and 2/3 cup sugar until blended. Increase speed to high; beat until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add baking powder, vanilla extract, salt, egg, 1 1/2 cups flour, and 2 tbsps water; beat until blended.
2. Place half of dough in medium bowl; stir in 1/2 cup flour. Into dough remaining in large bowl, stir cocoa.
3. Grease and flour 2 large cookie sheets or baking trays. On a floured surface, with a floured rolling pin, roll the vanilla dough  about 1/8th " thick. With floured 4" star cookie cutter, cut dough into as many cookies as possible.
4. Place vanilla cookies on 1 cookie sheet, about 1/4 inch apart. Reserve trimmings. Repeat with chocolate dough, placing chocolate cookies on second cookie sheet.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. With 2" star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out small stars in the centre of each vanilla and chocolate cookie. Fit a small vanilla cookie cutout into centre of each chocolate cookie and a small chocolate cookie cutout into centre of each vanilla cookie to make two-tone cookies.
6. Sprinkle cookies lightly with 2 teaspoons sugar. Bake cookies on 2 oven racks 12 to 15 minutes until golden, rotating cookie sheets between upper and lower racks halfway through baking time.
7. Remove the cookies to wire racks to cool. 
8. Continue to  repeat with remaining vanilla and chocolate doughs and remaining 1 teaspoon sugar.
9. Store cookies in an airtight container...not that I expect them to  last very long ;))))

Note :You can also make these with any other shaped cookie cutter you have,hearts,flowers,leaves....although a Santa cutter may be a bit of a challenge ;D

 

Cashewnut toffee (Jeedipappu Pakam)

Welcome distractions kept me away from writing,unexpectedly...traversing in the land known for it's pesarattus, layered biryanis , spicy podis and pulsus...Hyderabad is indeed a melting pot of many customs and cuisines...the mughal influence is completely showcased in the city's food , architecture , customs and language ! The city is unique in that it offers the culinary heritage of the telugu hindus and that of the royal mughals who made their mark and continue to do so in all areas of day to day living.
Weddings in India are an experience in themselves and one in the family is even more so...the laughter of children,family banter late into the night,while tucking into delicious morsels of food truly makes for great memories in the years to come.
Gifting sweets is a time honoured Indian tradition,a custom that is all the more special during an important celebration ,like a wedding...the famous Jeedipappu Pakam...an elevated decadent version of the chikki is a firm favourite among food lovers evrywhere...a very famous sweet and most travellers,on leisure, to the city of Hyderabad ,will definitely be presented,to carry back home, a packet of these delicious cashew nut morsels !

G.Pulla Reddy-the one stop shop for delicious sweets and savouries,foodies from everywhere visit this place to carry back delicious treats !

Golden , crunchy  and delicious,it can be very addictive,so beware !
I give you ,one of the most authentic recipes from a very reliable source,should you want to make it at home...
Recipe for Jeedipappu Pakam
3 C cashew nuts (whole)
3/4 C jaggery (or soft brown sugar)
3/4 C sugar
1/2 tsp ghee
1 tsp cardamom powder or a few whole green cardamom smashed (optional)
Method
 Grease a flat metal pan with ghee and set aside

In a wide heavy bottomed pan,add the sugar and jaggery along with the water ,on low heat
As it melts ,swirl the pan,do not stir and bring to the boil
As it bubbles away,keep swirling,until it turns thick and syrupy...it will be a slow sticky bubble around the edges of the pan
Quickly add in the cashew nuts and cardamom (if using ) and stir to coat,turn off heat and pour mixture onto the greased pan.
Wait for it to cool and break into pieces or leave as one solid block and break off as and when you want to eat it.
Store in an airtight container
Do try this recipe and share your thoughts !


The ring murrukku,another lip smacking treat that is popular at G.Pulla Reddy :))

Lettuce and orange salad

Sometimes after a long tiring day,all you want is a hot bath and a light quick meal with no compromise whatsoever on the taste...a soup and a salad is just such a meal ! If you always plan ahead for the week,you can stock your pantry with ingredients that make it easy for you to whip up a delicious salad in no time at all along with a yummy soup. It's always the empty larder or the foraging of ingredients that can be more trying than the actual cooking process itself ! Once you know what you have beforehand ,the putting it together is actually the fun part...so plan to stock your shelves a week in advance...and bottled ingredients like Olive oil , balsamic vinegar , mustard , honey...is best bought at the begining of the month !

While my earlier broccoli soup called for veggie stock and some other ingredients,this one was just steamed broccoli partly blended (you can see the bits of whole broccoli in the soup) with some sauteed onions,warm water and milk...quick and very yummy...some shop bought foccacia and nothing else was needed !!!The fact that my family love their greens and  that a friend shared with me her bounty of some amazing lettuce,definitely made the meal what it was...delicious and uplifting !
 The perfect meal to rejuvenate you after a long tiring day....as a parent your day is still not your own until the kids are tucked into bed...at least for me ;))...so this meal was just what I needed to have the energy to keep me going long after the little heads hit the pillow and nodded off to la la land !!!

Recipe for Lettuce and Orange Salad

Ingredients

Lettuce- 2 big heads-torn and washed thoroughly and drained-refrigerate if not using immediately

Orange segments-3 oranges

Pecan nuts- 2 Tbsp

Extra virgin olive oil-4 Tbsp

Balsamic vinegar-1 Tbsp

Juice-half an orange

Salt ,pepper

Demerrera sugar-2 tsp

Water-1 tsp

Method

In a big bowl,add the torn lettuce leaves

Add the orange segments

In a pan,add the sugar and water,swirl,set the pan on low heat

After the sugar dissolves and bubbles up to a sticky caramel,add the pecan nuts and swirl gently until well coated...take off the fire and let cool

In a smaller bowl ,whisk together with a small fork,the EVOO,balsamic vinegar,juice,salt and pepper...check for taste .Alternatively,you could also pour it all into a small glass jar and shake well.

Pour over the lettuce and orange and toss through gently

Top with the caramelised pecans and serve immediately

After the first serving,you may need to toss well for subsequent servings,as the dressing may settle to the bottom ! Enjoy !

Presenting Lettuce and orange salad featured in 'dinner by candlelight'

Tempered whole grain bread

It's cold and raining...finally the monsoon has arrived, I hope, after playing truant all this while ! It's absolutely  amazing how weather starts hunger pangs... especially the rains...the South Indian in me was craving for something hot and spicy and quick...whole grain bread to the rescue !!! This dish has many versions and is eaten as a snack or as part of a main meal...it's also known as 'rotti upma' rotti meaning bread in Tamil and upma is usually any kind of carb tempered with spices...for me this dish brings back memories of my mom eating it on a rainy day...not very different from today....relaxed and peaceful  as she ate it with a mug of steaming hot tea beside her,around the time that we got back from school,past 4pm !
Today after a very long time,it was with the same kind of calm quietness that my family and I relished this simple bowl of food...feet crossed ,seated at the bay window,watching the pelting rain and the trees which somehow seemed to have gotten greener in the passing hour...or was that just my brain  sending happy signals of a tummy satisfied with food ?!! ;))

As you can see,it 's not fried,just a very light tempering of spices with a dash of buttermilk for the sour tang...along with sweet taste of the sauteed onions and the unmistakable bite of green chili,it certainly hit the spot ! Since it was just a early evening snack, 3 slices of bread was perfect for 3 ,slightly hungry people !!!
Ingredients
Whole grain bread- 3 slices...cut into squares
Small onions- 10-chopped
Green chillies-slit and de seeded-2

Mustard seeds, urad dhal,curry leaves- for tempering
buttermilk-1/4 c
Oil- 1 Tbsp
salt
Method
In a shallow pan,add the oil..once it gets slightly hot,
Add the tempering ingredients
Add the onions and green chillies and saute,add salt
The salt brings out the water in the onions and doesn't let it crisp up
Add the bread,turn the heat down to low and toss well
Add the butter a tsp at a time ,until it gets soaked up
Leave it on low heat for a few more minutes until it's not too dry or soggy
Serve hot with a steaming beverage of choice....a dash of rainfall will add to the flavour !!!!

 That is the sign of a well relished bowl of food !!!....The next time it rains,get your taste buds and ingredients ready for simple tastes to explode in your mouth , bringing with it immense satisfaction... I could almost hear my family purring with contentment...Lol !